Why Monty Williams calls on Pop for inspiration

Former Spurs assistant general manager and player Monty Williams is enduring a losing streak that’s been hard to fathom this season during his stint as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets.

The Hornets are in the middle of an eight-game losing streak headed into Monday’s game against Utah. After starting the season 2-0, New Orleans has lost 23 of its last 25 games.

The trade of Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers has helped create the circumstances that have led to New Orleans’ tumble. Only a year ago, the Hornets were 46-36 and pushed the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

“You get upset, but tossing chairs, cussing and doing all that stuff is not the way I deal with things,’’ Williams told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “At the end of the day, I’ve got to go home and explain it to my wife, and that’s not something I want to do.

“Our record is not what I expected. When I look at the film and see situations where I could have helped, I’m more frustrated with that than I am about a guy missing a shot or getting a turnover, because ultimately I put him in that spot. The frustration of coaching can cause you to do some things, like not talk to the media ever again. But at the same time, it’s part of the job; frustration goes along with it.’’

To get him through this year’s struggles, Williams has reached out to his coaching mentors. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has told him to smile more on the bench.

And Portland Coach Nate McMillan, one of Williams’ closest friends, reminded him of rebuilding they endured during Williams’ first season as an assistant on McMillan’s staff in 2005-06. That Trail Blazers team finished at 21-61.

“I’ve talked to Monty a couple of times, and he’s going to be OK,’’ McMillan told the Times-Picayune. “He understands where he’s at with his team and what they’re going through. When you lose an All-Star like Chris Paul, you are rebuilding. He’s rebuilding in a very challenging season where there was a lockout, shortened training camp, and you are trying to fit some players together, and that’s always hard.’’

Popovich should provide the ultimate inspiration for Williams. Popovich’s first Spurs team in 1996-97, struggling with David Robinson injured for much of the season, limped to a 17-47 record. Williams averaged 9.0 points a game on that team — his career season-high.

Tim Duncan arrived and the Spurs’ history changed.

With the richest upcoming draft in recent memory expected next season, players like Kentucky’s Anthony Davis or Connecticut’s Andre Drummond could similarly turn things around for Williams.